In the 1990s, they almost got big, really big. Remember, the album “Troublegum”, released in 1994, its mythical cover (a naked man with his head in a trash can!), its slew of hits at the crossroads of indie rock and metal… A year later, the Therapy ? confirm, with “Infernal Love”, almost as good as its predecessor, and an excellent concert at the time at the Olympia in Paris.
And then after, a slow decline, nice albums, but never transcendent, the descent into Ligue 2, even 3. Fortunately, the Northern Irish musicians never lost their faith, continuing to tour like crazy, and always delivering joyful, lively concerts during their regular visits to France. Like this Wednesday, May 4, in the Parisian Black Ball (18th), small room, but busy, and by connoisseurs. Who were entitled to twenty songs, including most hits and classics, and even an unreleased.
A tribute to Taylor Hawkins
So it starts strong with a “Nausea” whose sound actually gives a little pain to the ears, the voice of guitarist and singer, Andy Cairns, being mixed too far forward. The sound engineer, however, quickly rectifies the shot and, when the essential “Stories” tumbles, we can appreciate it to its full extent.
“How are you, my friends? “, launches Cairns in French to the public before attacking a more recent title, “Kakistocracy”, from the latest studio disc, “Cleave”, which dates from 2018. Pleasant, but not as much as the very melodic “ Die Laughing”, dedicated to Taylor Hawkins, drummer of the Foo Fighters who died in March 2022.
Cairns regularly expresses himself between the songs, sometimes with a few words in the language of Molière, at other times belching a “Fuck The Covid!” ” unexpected. As usual, bassist Michael McKeegan can’t stand still on stage, while drummer Neil Cooper dutifully bangs his kit. He will even be entitled to his solo, perfectly useless but not too long, on the encore.
Covers of Joy Division and Judas Priest
On stage, we are entitled to a new title, “Joy”, quite syncopated and effective. The best known “Trigger Inside”, “Church of Noise”, or the cover of Hüsker Du, “Diane”, are carving out a great success. The concert ends after barely an hour on “Teethgrinder”, but the group still comes back for another twenty totally enjoyable minutes, apart from the drum solo already denounced above.
Because aim a little for this end: the swirling “Knives”, “Poto Junkie”, the cover of “Isolation” by Joy Division, that of “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest (during which McKeegan, a big metal fan, is unleashed in front of the eternal), the hit “Nowhere” and the seminal “Screamager”! OK, nothing really new under the sun, but what efficiency. Therapy?, you come back whenever you want!
In the meantime, we can jump on the first official biography of the group, “All that for 30 years of Therapy? », signed by music journalist Simon Young, and available, in French, published by Kicking Books & Records (21 euros).
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